Simone Biles is a ‘once-in-a-lifetime athlete,’ and she has certainly proved this with 37 medals to her name. But was it easy for her? Well, this all stemmed from her journey of rising, falling and springing back up again, akin to a phoenix rising from the ashes. Through this process, we Bilesians are privy to the true human side of her. A recent announcement chronicles her journey on celluloid, and how. Her tryst with gymnastics, life and everything in between was featured in the Netflix docuseries that will release on July 17. But before that, Biles shared a trailer for “Simone Biles Rising” on her Instagram, which made the gymnastics community proud of her, including Suni Lee, Nastia Liukin, and more.
Indeed, anyone who watched this was left with goosebumps from the outset. As one fan said, “Full body chills into the actual tears.” In the trailer, Biles opens up about her heartbreaking exit from the Tokyo Games, which was the result of her ongoing struggles with mental health leading up to the event. “I’ve always had really good intuition about things, and unfortunately I felt that way about the Olympics,” Biles shared. “I’ve been having these mental blocks in the gym recently.”
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The documentary also reveals the tough reactions Biles faced after pulling out of the competition — from the initial stumble that caught everyone’s attention to the subsequent criticism. “Quitter of the year” Biles recalls, “As soon as you win, [it’s like] ‘God, I hate her’… everything that happened, it’s a trauma response.”
The docuseries also shines a light on Biles’ friends, family, and coach whom she credits with preventing her from quitting during the countless moments she wanted to. With the support of her community, Biles found the strength to bounce back and re-enter the games, setting her sights on the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics. “I knew it would be a long journey, but, to me, it wasn’t done… I’m going for another Olympic run,” Biles declared in the trailer. “I get to write my own ending.”As they say, this is the beginning of the end for her. As soon as this heart-touching teaser surfaced, the gymnastics community erupted in applause for her journey.
Simone Biles’ Docuseries sparks excitement! who were her messiahs during her mental blocks?
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With a simple statement, 2020 Tokyo teammate Suni Lee expressed her anticipation, stating, “Ok, putting it into my calendar to watch.” It appears Lee has set a reminder of the release of Simone Biles’ two-part docuseries on July 17th. However, their bond was recently seen during the Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championship when Biles assisted Lee during her struggle with a twist vault, emphasizing their understanding during the pressure. Lee returned to gymnastics after battling kidney disease. However, Biles her own experience with the twisties offered Lee reassurance and stayed nearby during her uneven bars routine, which made her now eligible for trials. This shows that Biles is always there for anyone who needs her during their mental blocks.
Nastia Liukin also commented, “lfg. proud of you beyond.” During Biles’ exit from the Tokyo Olympics, Liukin voiced her support, affirming that Biles “did the right thing” in prioritizing her mental health. Additionally, Athleta, the brand sponsored by Simone Biles, expressed pride and admiration, stating, “Simone is so inspiring and empowering, we truly can’t wait for this 💞.”
Elle Black, a three-time Olympian, expressed her pride, saying, “So proud of you! July 17th can’t come soon enough.” She emphasized the importance of prioritizing oneself, stating, “Human first. Athlete second. Doing this for herself 🤍.” Trinity Thomas also shared her anticipation, saying, “I’m on the edge of my seat.” Both comments reflect admiration for Biles and recognition of her journey.
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Aly Raisman shared her anticipation on Instagram, captioning, “Go..can’t wait to watch.” She also supported Biles during the Tokyo Olympics. At that time she suggested that Biles may have “gotten lost in the air” during a challenging vault sequence. Raisman emphasized the increased pressure on Biles, reminding people that despite her skills, Biles is human and can sometimes face confusion like anyone else. She highlighted the difficulty of gymnastics routines and the pressure athletes face to make it look effortless.
Joscelyn Roberson, who grew up idolizing Simone Biles, expressed her excitement on her Instagram story, stating, “So excited for that,” referring to the Netflix docuseries. Even Jordan Chiles, who used to train with Biles in Spring, Texas, also shared the post on her Instagram stories. Even Chiles supported Biles’ decision regarding the exit in 2021. This shows the widespread awareness and support within the community regarding the challenges faced by athletes dealing with the twisties.